I was lucky enough to catch a fantastic documentary on BBC One last night about the challenges and achievements of disabled parenting.

This has inspired me to look at what else is out there on this subject as it is fantastic to see such positivity on our tv screens.  Last night’s documentary can be viewed on the BBC iplayer until next Monday so check out this absolute must see here.

Also, here is another fascinating insight into disabled parenting.

When: 28th March 2012
Where: London N7, spacious fully accessible venue
How:  Submit your booking form online or download here or simply contact us

Currently 15% discount on bookings 

Comments from previous participants:

I wanted to learn how I can diversify my volunteer base and Becki’s training provided a great opportunity to discuss your position (re volunteering for disabled people) in an environment that is non-judgemental. It was very informative and gave me a good base to start from. London Canal Museum

Thanks for all these brilliant resources and training. I will definitely be using them to involve more disabled volunteers and to raise awareness amongst staff and other volunteers. I’m now in the process of designing an OCN in Disability Awareness training for our organisation.                                 St Paul’s Community Development Trust

Feedback from delegates was positive and showed they had gained a valuable insight into disability as well as practical tools that they can use in their own organisations. As a result, our organisations are better equipped to recruit and support disabled volunteers and thus the knowledge gained was certainly worth the investment of time. Centre for Voluntary Action

To read more comments please go to our Testimonies page.

Please contact me if you have any questions or would like further information –                              inspiring-developmentATlive.co.uk / 07795 235243

View this must see documentary on BBC iplayer but be quick as only 2 days left! http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/bigscreen/tv/episode/b01d7kpj/

A great ending to 2011:

Before Christmas we had the pleasure of working with National Grid, delivering a bespoke training package to support the fantastic work of their Enabling Group. Feedback was great and National Grid’s commitment to disability equality is a true inspiration, we are looking forward to continuing our work with them in the Spring.

November also us spend a great afternoon training with Jewish Care; delightful, entertaining and positive as always.

Following this, we delivered our all new Managing Disabled Volunteers Training – new activities, content and course materials. We were really happy with how the day went and are pleased to be running this course again in London shortly.  Read feedback from participants.

Looking forward:

We are working across all sectors now with our training courses, mystery shopping audits, individual consultancy and mentoring for disabled people and are set to keep growing throughout 2012!

Forthcoming training:

Back by popular demand, we will be running our next Managing Disabled Volunteers Training in London on Wednesday 28th March 2012 and are once again offering a great 25% discount for those of you who want to join us.

This training is for anyone thinking about, wanting to, or currently engaging disabled volunteers, offering a relaxed and friendly way to approach and address the elements of engaging disabled volunteers successfully in your organisation. Only £71.25 per person for voluntary sector organisations!

Have you seen our new resources?

• Updates from the Hardest Hit Team and their campaign to ensure disabled people are heard and listened too
• A map of research on inclusive volunteering from across the world. Produced by the Attend Academy for our Action Learning Days last October
• Volunteering for Everyone: A guide for organisations who want to include and recruit volunteers who have a learning disability
• World Health Report on Disability
• Consultation about changing Disability Living Allowance to a new benefit

Keep in touch by following us on:

• Twitter – #inspconsultancy
• Facebook – The Inspirations Consultancy
• LinkedIn – Becki Cullen

As always thank you so much for your continuous support for our work. Please circulate this information and don’t hesitate to drop us an email or call for a chat at any time.

Warm regards,

Becki

And it’s starting to work.  Our campaigning inspired Lords to reject key government proposals on Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and force important concessions on the introduction of the new benefit set to replace Disability Living Allowance (DLA).  Click here to read the Government’s Consultation in easy read format.

Now it’s down to MPs to vote for these changes when the Bill moves back to the Commons in the next few weeks. Their votes will determine the fate of hundreds of thousands of people who rely on disability benefits.

We’ve already shown that by campaigning together we can force the government to change its mind. Now we need to convince MPs to keep the Lords’ changes.

Also, if you have the chance, why not visit your MP in person to explain what the changes could mean?

Let’s keep up this great work!!

A giant Christmas card has been organised by the Hardest Hit campaign group (DBC (Disability Benefits Consortium). The famous cartoonist and illustrator, Gerald Scarfe, is illustrating the card with the aim of gathering 10,000 signatures before the card is presented to the Government later this month.

The action is timed for WRB reaching Report Stage in the House of Lords and aims to increase political pressure on the Government by demonstrating mass concern over how disabled people will be affected by proposals within the Welfare Reform Bill, particularly the time-limit on ESA and PIP proposals.

Text of the card follows:

“Dear David Cameron and Nick Clegg,

While we don’t expect gifts this Christmas, we do want our basic rights protected and the support to enable us to live independently and with dignity. Please make the New Year something disabled people can look forward to by:

• Not bringing in an arbitrary time-limit on Employment and Support Allowance for those who’ve paid into the system and still need support.
• Making sure that those who rely on Disability Living Allowance continue to receive the financial support they need through Personal Independence Payment’

This is the link where you can sign the card: http://www.e-activist.com/ea-action/widget?widgetId=752

Please do promote this action to your friends, family and colleagues. Those signing the card can also leave a short comment if they wish in the card.

Thank you so much for your help.

There is little doubt that as a country we are in the midst of great changes to the landscape of both volunteering and employment.  These changes not least include a drive to move one million people off Incapacity Benefit and into work.  This alone means there is no better time for organisations to become DisAbility Aware!!

Government’s promotion of The Big Society, with an emphasis on community growth and increased volunteering opportunities for all, means that organisations which actively practice and promote an inclusive approach to their volunteer programmes could be at the forefront of benefiting from a wide range of expertise and skill.

Is your organisation ready to embrace this new wave of talent?

Concurrently but not intrinsically linked, the Personalisation Agenda means that organisations, voluntary, private and public, need to be aware of the full impact this is having.  Disabled people are becoming customers rather than service-users and this has to change the ways in which services are delivered. 

The need for providers to make themselves attractive, accessible and appealing to disabled people is becoming ever more important as this agenda, alongside the use of Direct Payments, empowers increasing numbers of disabled people to choose where and how they spend their personal/individual budgets. 

Once again, organisations that become truly DisAbility Aware, calling upon the expertise and experiences of disabled volunteers/employees when re-designing their services will gain a far greater appeal and competitive edge in doing so.

As a relatively untapped pool of diverse talent, many more highly motivated disabled people are now looking to develop and share their abilities and skills in ways which show what we truly have to offer organisations.

Is your organisation taking the opportunity to gain the huge expertise, skills and perspectives that a diverse volunteer pool brings? 

Together with this agenda, introduction of the new Equality Act (EA) which came into force on the 1^st of October 2010 now makes it far easier for organisations to understand their duties.

Whilst the Equality Act doesn’t impact upon volunteering directly, the examples and guidance it contains can be used by volunteer-involving organisations as very effective examples of best practice for attracting and engaging disabled people.  See our useful resources for disability and volunteering information.

All of these factors pave the way for the changing nature of our society and together disabled people, professionals and organisations are the best ones to lead the way in using today’s climate to initiate positive and long-lasting change.

Together we can make a difference!

To discuss this article or find out more about our Managing Disabled Volunteers Training please contact us

Read testimonies from or clients 

Book a training course

Develop your awareness and understanding of disability equality and good practice in a fun, relaxed and interactive environment.

This half day training session will inform, challenge and inspire you to feel more confident when meeting, working and/or socialising with disabled people

Course outline:

• Housekeeping and Setting the Scene

• Perceptions, Stereotypes and the Disability Movement

• Language and Basic Etiquette

• Social Model Thinking in Practice

• Question and Answer Session

• Reflection, Evaluation and Feedback

This course is ideal for: Front line staff • Heads of Departments • Managers •  • Volunteer Coordinators • Team Leaders • HR / Equality Officers • Health Practitioners  • Support Workers • Patient Liaisons • Volunteers • Disabled individuals •

When: Wednesday 2^nd November 2011, 12:15 – 4:00 pm

Where:  Spacious fully accessible venue, London N7

How much: £105 (Public / Private Sector)            £75 (Voluntary / Third Sector)           £45 (Volunteers / Not in Work)

Download Full course details and our Booking Form or click here for feedbark from previous participants